S&P says $8 trillion in debt maturing through 2015

Standard & Poor’s says the world will need to refinance $8 trillion through 2015.

That may mean more difficult times ahead for corporations looking to roll over their debts.

About half of the maturing debt is from entities domiciled in Europe , while just over a third is in the U.S.

While refunding isn’t likely to be a problem this year,

“In the following years, we are not sure that there is enough demand to meet the substantial debt refinancing needs,” said Diane Vazza, head of Standard & Poor’s Global Fixed Income Research. “In 2012, more than $2 trillion of corporate debt will mature, $1.8 trillion in 2013, almost $2 trillion in 2014, and $1.6 trillion in 2015.”

The sluggish economic recovery, higher interest rates, Europe’s sovereign debt woes and Middle East instability are all likely to weigh on demand for corporated debt, the agency said.

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